Jonathan Dienst is NBC New York’s Chief Investigative Reporter and Chief Justice Contributor for NBC News. Dienst’s reporting is featured on WNBC newscasts and digital properties. Dienst also regularly appears on NBC national programs including NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, NBC News Now, and The Today Show. He also appears on Dateline and CNBC, and he regularly contributes to NBCNews.com.
Dienst helps lead WNBC and NBC News coverage of major breaking news ranging from terrorism to public corruption, white collar crime to mass shootings. His reporting has included: coverage of former President Trump’s alleged abuses; alleged wrongdoing by Sen. Robert Menendez, Sen. Robert Torricelli, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik, former NY Governors Cuomo, Spitzer, Paterson, NY Senate leader Joe Bruno, NY Assembly Speaker Silver, former Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro, among other federal, state and local officials. He also played an important role in WNBC’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the large-scale protests following the murder of George Floyd and the impact of those protests across the region.
Dienst joined NBC shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For more than 20 years, he has helped spearhead the network’s coverage of significant terror-related incidents at home and abroad. Dienst also covers the NYPD and major crime stories from coast to coast – from school shootings in Newtown and Uvalde, to significant organized crime cases and to corruption on Wall Street.
Prior to joining NBC, Dienst worked as a reporter for WPIX-TV in New York from 1996-2001 and was one the original reporters who helped launch NY 1 News in 1992. He covered the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the mass shooting on the LIRR later that same year, and the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800. His first on-air position was with WSAV in Savannah, GA where he helped cover that city’s skyrocketing crime rate and local police corruption. Dienst also had experience working behind the scenes at Fox 5 New York, and has written articles for the NY Times, Newsday and the NY Post. Dienst’s exclusive reporting has received recognition and awards including: Associated Press, Emmy, Murrow, Columbia-DuPont, NY Press Club, Investigative Reporters and Editors, among others.
Dienst is a graduate of Colgate University and received his MS in Journalism from Columbia University.
The Latest
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Mangione state trial delayed as prosecutors respond to motion to dismiss on double jeopardy claims
It was the first time any of the CEO’s relatives were in the same room with the man accused of gunning down their loved one.
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‘I shot Mr. Thompson': Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing
It was the first time any of the CEO’s relatives were in the same room with the man accused of gunning down their loved one.
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▶ Luigi Mangione in court for expected guilty plea in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing
Luigi Mangione is due in federal court Friday for a hearing at which he’s expected to plead guilty in connection with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to people familiar with his plans. Mangione could still change his mind about the plea deal, the sources say. Previous talks in June broke down. Thompson’s family was in...
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Mangione expected to plead guilty in Manhattan federal court Friday, sources say
The accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have reached a deal in his federal trial, weeks before the start of his state case.
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Hearing scheduled in Luigi Mangione federal trial, raising questions of possible plea deal
A hearing has been scheduled in the federal trial for Luigi Mangione, according to sources — sparking new questions as to whether the alleged killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO could be looking to reach a plea deal.
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New video shows fiery attack at 26 Federal Plaza attack
New video shows a suspect allegedly shoot off fireworks and fire a pellet gun before pouring gasoline and lighting a large fire outside a federal office building in lower Manhattan.
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Army veteran allegedly lit fire outside federal building in lower Manhattan, FBI says
A former servicemember in the U.S. Army and National Guard was taken into custody after allegedly setting off fireworks and lighting a fire in front of a federal office building in lower Manhattan that houses an immigration court and other government offices, an FBI official said. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Andrew Arrabaca, was in custody and being interviewed...
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‘Most-wanted' fugitive in ‘Lion King' boat rape nabbed off NY, NJ after 20 years on run
One of the most-wanted fugitives in Rhode Island who had spent more than 20 years running from law enforcement was caught off the coast of New York and New Jersey, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
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NY woman allegedly sent over $30K to help fund terror group's attacks on Israel
A New York woman was charged after sending thousands of dollars to try to help the Palestine Islamic Jihad carry out attacks against Israel, the Justice Department said.
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‘Jackpotting' crew stole over $500,000 from ATMs along I-95 in Connecticut, FBI says
The FBI said it arrested four men who allegedly stole tens of thousands at a time from ATMs at rest stops along I-95 in Connecticut.
